Automobile or self-propelled torpedo



H. MAXIM.

AUTOMOBILE OR SELF PROPELLED TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED JULYSI 1919.

1 A1 2,7 89. Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. MAXIM.

AUTOMOBILE 0R SELF PROPELLED TORPEDO.

APPLICATION man JULYQ. m9.

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AUTOMOBILE 0R SELF-PBOPELLED TORPEDO'.

Application filed July 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUDSON MAXIM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borou h of Hopatcong, county of Sussex, and ri tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile or Self-Propelled Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in automobile or self-propelled torpedoes, particularly to means for exploding the warhead of the torpedo if and when the torpedo passes under a vessel attacked, as frequently happens when torpedo-boat destroyers or merchant vessels of light draft are attacked, the torpedo running deeper'in the water than the draft of the vessel, thus failing to strike the vessel head-on, thereby to actuate the usual firingmechanism of the warhead heretofore employed.

In carrying out the invention, means are provided for making contact with the bottom of the vessel preferably by an-electrical conductor, in such wise that as a result of the said contact an, electric current is gen? erated or set up and caused to pass through the detonator or exploding mechanism of the warhead of the torpedo, causing the same to explode while directly under the hull of the vessel attacked, and in a position to efi'ect the greatest damage to the vessel.

Not only, however, is the present invention applicable to the destruction of vessels of light draft, but'also it may be employed very advantageously in attacking vessels of any draft underneath and in a position more vulnerable than the side of the vessel. Many vessels, especially modern war vessels, are provided with means for resisting torpedo attacks quite successfully upon the side of the hull, but there is no efiicient means yet devised for protecting a vessel from the explosion of the warhead of a torpedo directly under the bottom of the vessel.

Therefore, a torpedo employing this invention may be directed toward a. vessel to be destroyed at any desired depth, so that it will avoid striking the vessel head-on and will pass underneath the vessel, to be exploded directly beneath it and in a position where its explosive will be most destructive.

While other means of effecting contact with the bottom .or hull of the vessel to ex- Specifieation of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

1919. Serial No. 309,540.

plode the torpedo may be employedor means of any sort through magnetic influence or otherwise for passing the electric current through the de'tonator of the torpedo to eX- plode the same, still I preferably employ 'a device with a trailing member, which is preferably released by a delay action after the torpedo 'is launched, to prevent any drag upon the torpedo by the trailing member in its passage through the water during the main portion of the run, the release being effected just before reaching the target or at a sufiicient distance before reaching the target to allow the trailing member to pay out a sufiicient distance to effect contact with the bottom of the vessel attacked.

'One end of the trailing member, which may be a copper wire or pair of copper wires, suitably insulated, is secured to the firing mechanism in the torpedo warhead, and at the other or free end is provided means, preferably in the form of a kite, for causing the wire or trailing member to rise in the water through the force of the forward motion of the torpedo through the water, that is to say, by the rapid motion of the trailing member drawn through the water by the onrush of the torpedo.

I Such elevating device is preferably made in the form of a kite, this form having been found to serve the purpose admirably. The wire of the trailing member is preferably wound about 'a reel in the arhead, and means are provided for releasing the reel either immediately uponlaunching the torpedo or at any point during the run. Preferably, however, the trailing member is secured against release until near the end of the run of the torpedo and just before reaching the target.

I will now particularly describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure 1, is a diagram on a small scale illustrating the function of the invention.

FigureQ, is a longitudinal section in dia gram of the forward portion of the torpedo provided with the invention.

Figure 3. is an enlarged sectional elevation thereof.

Figure l, is a like View of the reel showing its'position when the trailing conductor has fully paid out.

Figure 5, is a perspective View Of the kite.

Figure 6, is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a modification thereof.

Referring to the said drawings,'the improvement is shown adapted 'to occupy a small cavity in the warhead B of an ordinary automobile torpedo A; the usual detonator:

D adapted to be fired by a head on contact being unchanged. 2

' The mechanism consists of a flexible electric conductor or wire 10, forming the trailing member. evenly wound about a spool or reel 12, the inner end of which wire is fast to the reel and the outer or free end passing through an insulating bushing 13, in the shell of the warhead and connected to a suitably shaped elevating device or kite 11, that normally lies in inactive position against the exterior of the warhead, as in Figures 2 and 3.

The central bore. of the reel 12 is screwthreaded to engage the threaded portion of trailing conductor 10, the reel will be caused V to move longitudinally over the spindle until arrested by a stop at the end of the spindle at the moment the trailer has fully paid out.

The spindle 17 is held at its ends in brackets 24, 25, fast to and insulated from the interior of the warhead shell; the bracket 25, forming the stop limiting the rotation and longitudinal movement of the reel. The end of the conductor 10 fast to the reel ends in a terminal 9 in position to make contact with a like terminal 8 on the end of the spindle on the completion of said movements, thereby establishing electrical connection with the binding post 26 on the extreme end of the spindle 17 7 An electro-magnet 15 with its armature 16, is suitably mounted adjacent the reel 12,with the pivot end of the armature in circuit by a line wire 27 with one pole of an electric generator or battery C, and the other pole thereof in circuit by a wire 28' with the detonator '1). One end of the magnet coil is grounded by a wire 29 to the warhead shell and the other end of the coil is in circuit by a connection. 14: with the binding post 26. Another binding post 30 forming a contact for the free end of the armature 16, is in circuit with the detonator D, by a connection 31, from which it results that when the electro-magnet 15 is energized, its armature 16 will be moved to close the circuit between the battery C andfthe detonator D and thereby fire the latter. The metallic connection through the elec tro-magnet coil is had from the kite 11, trailing conductor 10, terminals 9 and 8, thence through binding post 26, and connection 14: to one end of the coil, and through the coil to the -shell of the torpedo. As soon as the kite conductor meets the larger metallic mass against rotation. 'vides' an armature 180i an electro-magnet of the target, the circuit will be completed through the intervening seawater acting as an electrolyte.

t will be apparent that until the trailing conductor has fully paid out, and the terminals9 and 8 brought in contact, no circuit through the electromagnet can occur, and that the firing circuit, including the battery and detonator, will not be closed until the electro-magnet is energized.

In'operatiomthe drag of thekite due to the forward motion of the torpedo through the water will cause the trailing 'member to payout from its reel, which by reason of the shape or" the kite, as best seen in Figure 5, will be caused to rise in the water and held thereat at a considerable elevation above the torpedo, as in Figure 1, in position to strike the target T, as before explained.

To avoid the effect on the armature 16. of retardation otthe torpedo when entering the water. and prevent a premature closing of the firing circuit, a safety device is employed with the armature. Thus its "free end supports a pendulous and weighted latch S,

adapted at the moment of retardation to swing independent of the armature to engage a fixed catch t, and thus temporarily hold the armature against movement. As soon as the effect of retardation ceases the weighted latch returns-to its normal position, allowing the proper operation of the armature.

'To modify or reduce the efiect on the speed or direction of the torpedo, because of the drag of the elevating device through the water, a delay-action device E, to the paying outof the trailing conductor may be em- 'ployed.

Thus,'as shown in Figures 2 and 3, .one end of the reel 12 form part of a magnetic brake, operating normally to hold the reel The end of the reel pro 19, the coil of which is in circuit with an electric generator such as the battery C, through wires 20, 33 and 3 1. The timely breaking of this brake circuit will release the armature of thereel to permit the immediate paying out of the trailing conductor. For this purpose the wires 20, 33, each ends in adjacent terminals 7 in the base of a receptacle 21, containing a quantity of mercury 82, normally completing the circuit between the terminals. The escape of the mercury to bare the terminals 7 and thus break thecircuitmay be caused by the operation of a spring motor-VF in raising-a suitable needle or other valve 6 to open a passageior the mercury from its receptacle 21 to a receiving receptacle'22. The spring motor may be of any suitable construction, whose speed may be governed by an ordinary escapemnt, lflormally the motor is held from the foregoing against movement by a detent 5, with its exposed end forming an. armature to be raised, at the moment of the launching of the torpedo, by an electro-magnet 23 in the launching tube.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, substantially the same mechanism is employed as that hereinbefore described, the circuit, however, being so disposed that the apparatus is operable to fire the detonator b 1 the 0 )enin of a normall 1 closed electromagnet circuit instead'of the closing of a normally open circult.

Thus the trailing conductor 4L0 iscom- V posed of two insulated wires 2, 8, the second wire 3, for illustration sake, for a portion of its length being represented by a spiral around the other wire. The two ends of the wires at the kite 11 are in circuit, but capable of being parted or broken by the force of impact of the kite with the target. Both wires are carried by the rotatable reel 12 with the end of the wire 2, leading by a wire 45 to one pole of the battery C. while the end of the wire 3 at the end of its association with the other wire is connected to one end of the coil of the electro-magnet 15 that is continued by a wire 4% leading to the other pole of the battery 0. The circuit thus completed energizes the electro-magnet and holds its armature 16 against its poles, out of contact with the binding post 43 which as before has a wire 31 leading to the detonator D. One pole of the battery C is connected by a wire 27 leading to the pivot of the armature 16, while the other pole is connected by the wire 28 with the detonator. The e ectromagnet circuit is thus a closed one, while the firing circuit, including the armature, as in the other illustration of the invention, is an open one, with the result that as soon as the one circuit is broken in manner before described, the armature will be released to contact with the binding post 43 to close the firing circuit including the battery C.

The continuity of the electric circuits formed with the wires 2 and 3 of the trailing conductor 40, including the coil of the electro-magnet and the battery, may be had by a variety of means. As shown in Figure 6, the wires terminate at the end of the reel 12 in ring-shaped plates a, b, borne upon by brushes 0, (Z, traveling longitudinally with the reel and kept "from rotating therewith by fixed guides e.

To obviate the effect on the armature 16, of acceleration of the torpedo, a similar safety device as applied for the retardation of the torpedo in Figure 8, may be employed.

Figure 6, also shows a modification of the magnetic brake E, in which an open instead of a closed circuit is employed. The armature 418 is mounted to slide on parallel guides 49 and has teeth 1, engaging the end of the reel; while the separated ends 71 of the wires,

20, project into the mercury receiver 22, in such manner that when the mercury escaping from the receptacle 21 reaches a proper.

height in the receiver, the circuit through the battery will be made, thus energizing the electro-magnet 19 and withdrawing the armature from engagement with the reel.

lVhat is claimed is:

1, An automobile torpedo and its detonator with an electric circuit including a sub-aqueous trailing conductor adapted to fire the detonator on the contact of a larger metallic mass.

2. An automobile torpedo and its detonator with an electric circuit including a sub-aqueous trailing conductor adapted to fire the detonator on the contact of a larger metallic mass and an elevating device attached to.the conductor.

3. An automobile torpedo and its detonator with an electric circuit including a sub-aqueous trailing conductor extensible with respect to the torpedo and adapted to fire the detonator on the contact of a larger metallic mass.

- 4. An automobile torpedo and its detonator with a sub-aqueous trailing conductor extensible with respect to the torpedo and adapted to fire'the detonator on the contact of a larger metallic mass and an elevating device carried by the conductor.

5. An automobile torpedo and its detonator with a flexible sub-aqueous trailing conductor adapted to fire the detonator on the contact of a larger metallic mass.

6. An automobile torpedo and its detonator with a flexible sub-aqueous trailing conductor adapted to fire the detonator and an elevating device carried by the conductor.

7. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, an electric circuit for firing the detonator on the propinquity of a larger metallic mass with a trailing conductor adapted on contact with the target to operate said circuit.

8. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, an electric circuit for firing the detonator on the propinquity of a larger metallic mass with a trailing conductor extensible with respect to the torpedo and adapted on contact with the target to operate said circuit.

9. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, an electric circuit for firing the deto nator with a trailing conductor adapted on contact with the target to operate said circuit and having an attached elevating device.

10. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, an electric circuit for firing the detonator on the propinquity of a larger metallic mass, with a sub aqueous trailing conductor adapted to control said circuit.

11. An automobile torpedo and its detonat r, an electric circuit for firing the detonator with a sub-aqueous trailing conductor adapted to control said circuit and having an attached elevating device.

12. in automobile torpedo and its detonator, an electric circuit for firing the detonator, anotherelectric circuit for controlling the tiring circuit and a sub-aqueous trailing conductor included in said other circuit. t a

13. An automobile torpedo'and its detonator, an electric circuit including a battery for firing thedetonator, another electric circuit including a relay-magnet and said bat tery for operating the firing circuit and a sub-aqueous trailing conductor for operating said magnet.

14. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, an electric circuit including a battery for firing the detonator, another electric circuit including a relaymagnet and said battery for operating the firing circuit, a subaqueous trailing conductor for operating said magnet and an elevating device attached to the conductor.

15. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, a sub-aqueousfflexible conductor adapted to fire the detonator, a reel on which said conductor is wound and an elevating device attached to the conductor for unwinding the same.

16. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, an electric circuit including-a flexible conductor adapted to fire the detonator, a reel on which said conductor is wound, an elevating device attached to the conductor for unwinding the sameand a pair of sep arated terminals in said circuit brought in contact by the unwinding operation.-

17. An automobile torpedo and its detonator, an open electric circuit including a flexible conductor adapted to fire the detonator, a reel on which said conductor is wound and carrying a terminal of the circuit, an elevating device attached to the conductor for unwinding the same from the reel, and another terminal in said circuit adapted to make. contact with the firstnamed terminal when the conductor is unwound.

18. Anautornobile torpedo and its detonator an electric circuit including a trailing conductor, and a relay magnetythe armature whereof is provided with a safety latch preventing premature movement of the armature.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

HUDSON MAXIM.

Witnesses LILIAN MAXIM, GEORGE'H. GRAHAM. 

